misdeed

Etymology

From Middle English misdede, from Old English misdǣd (“misdeed”), from Proto-Germanic *missadēdiz (“misdeed”), equivalent to mis- +‎ deed. Cognate with Scots misded (“misdeed”), West Frisian misdied (“misdeed”), Dutch misdaad (“misdeed”), German Missetat (“misdeed”), Swedish missdåd (“misdeed”), Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍃𐌰𐌳𐌴𐌸𐍃 (missadēþs, “misdeed”). More at mis-, deed.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɪsˈdiːd/

Noun

misdeed (plural misdeeds)

1. That which was done that should not have been, ranging from any sin or moral offense to various degrees of crime.

   The petty misdeeds of his youth came back to haunt him when he ran for political office and his character was smeared.

See also

• mischief

References

• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

Anagrams

• Medised, demised, meddies, medised